Rotatable faucet with water temperature retaining feature

Abstract

A rotatable water faucet having a water temperature retaining feature includes a hot water control, a cold water control, a mixing chamber for receiving the hot and cold water, a water passage rotatably connected to the mixing chamber for dispensing a mixture of hot and cold water received from the mixing chamber through an outlet of the water passage, and a master control for controlling the dispensing of water through the outlet, wherein the master control is capable of stopping the dispensing of water through the outlet while at least one of the hot water control and the cold water control is in an open position, wherein rotation of the water passage is capable of stopping the dispensing of water through the outlet while the master control, and at least one of the hot water control and the cold water control are in the open position.

1 . A rotatable water faucet having a water temperature retaining feature, the water faucet comprising:
 a hot water control for controlling an amount of hot water flowing through the water faucet, wherein the hot water control allows hot water from a hot water supply to flow through the water faucet when the hot water control is in an open position;   a cold water control for controlling an amount of cold water flowing through the water faucet, wherein the cold water control allows cold water from a cold water supply to flow through the water faucet when the cold water control is in an open position;   a mixing chamber for receiving the hot water from the hot water supply and the cold water from the cold water supply;   a first flow control cartridge operationally coupled with the hot water control for regulating the flow of hot water from the hot water supply into the mixing chamber;   a second flow control cartridge operationally coupled with the cold water control for regulating the flow of cold water from the cold water supply into the mixing chamber;   a water passage rotatably connected to the mixing chamber for dispensing a mixture of hot and cold water received from the mixing chamber through an outlet of the water passage; and   a master control for controlling the dispensing of water through the outlet, wherein the master control is capable of stopping the dispensing of water through the outlet while at least one of the hot water control and the cold water control is in the open position,   wherein rotation of the water passage is capable of stopping the dispensing of water through the outlet while the master control, and at least one of the hot water control and the cold water control are in the open position.   
   
   
       2 . The water faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the water passage comprises a spout, spout chamber, and an inlet hole, and the water passage and the mixing chamber are rotatably connected at the inlet hole of the spout chamber and an outlet hole of the mixing chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The water faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the water passage is rotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. 
   
   
       4 . The water faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the water passage is rotatable about 90 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The water faucet of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the water passage during water flow controls an amount of the water flow such that the amount of the water flow gradually decreases as the water passage is turned away from a default position which is a position allowing a maximum amount of the water flow among a plurality of positions of the water passage, wherein the outlet of the water passage is directed toward a substantially central portion of a reservoir of a sink when the water passage is in the default position. 
   
   
       6 . The water faucet of  claim 5 , wherein the water flow stops when the water passage is rotated to a predetermined position, and an inlet hole of the water passage and an outlet hole of the mixing chamber are closed. 
   
   
       7 . The water faucet of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined position is about  90  degrees away from the default position of the water passage. 
   
   
       8 . The water faucet of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined position is where the outlet reaches near an inner edge of the sink when the water passage is rotated such that no water is dripped when the outlet points toward an outer surface of the sink. 
   
   
       9 . The water faucet of  claim 6 , wherein the water flow resumes when the water passage is rotated back toward the default position from the predetermined position. 
   
   
       10 . The water faucet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hot water pipe for connecting to the hot water supply;   a hot water chamber connected between the hot water pipe and the mixing chamber, wherein the hot water chamber houses the first flow control cartridge;   a cold water pipe for connecting to the cold water supply; and   a cold water chamber connected between the cold water pipe and the mixing chamber, wherein the cold water chamber houses the second flow control cartridge.   
   
   
       11 . The water faucet of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first control cartridge comprises an outer cartridge for retaining a fixed position of the first flow control cartridge within the hot water chamber and an inner cartridge rotatably fixed to the hot water control and rotatably coupled to an inner circumference of the outer cartridge; and   the second control cartridge comprises an outer cartridge for retaining a fixed position of the second flow control cartridge within the cold water chamber and an inner cartridge rotatably fixed to the cold water control and rotatably coupled to an inner circumference of the outer cartridge.   
   
   
       12 . The water faucet of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the inner cartridge of the first flow control cartridge comprises a stopper for regulating the flow of hot water from the hot water pipe into the hot water chamber; and   the inner cartridge of the second flow control cartridge comprises a stopper for regulating the flow of cold water from the cold water pipe into the cold water chamber.   
   
   
       13 . The water faucet of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the stopper of the first flow control cartridge comprises an inlet hole for operating with a chamber hole of the hot water chamber to regulate hot water flow; and   the stopper of the second flow control cartridge comprises an inlet hole for operating with a chamber hole of the cold water chamber to regulate cold water flow.   
   
   
       14 . The water faucet of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the amount of hot water flowing into the mixing chamber via the hot water chamber is dependent on a position of the inlet hole of the first flow control cartridge relative to the chamber hole of the hot water chamber; and   the amount of cold water flowing into the mixing chamber via the cold water chamber is dependent on a position of the inlet hole of the second flow control cartridge relative to the chamber hole of the cold water chamber.   
   
   
       15 . The water faucet of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the position of the inlet hole of the first flow control cartridge relative to the chamber hole of the hot water chamber is controlled by the rotational movement of the inner cartridge via the hot water control; and   the position of the inlet hole of the second flow control cartridge relative to the chamber hole of the cold water chamber is controlled by the rotational movement of the inner cartridge via the cold water control.   
   
   
       16 . The water faucet of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first check valve disposed on the stopper of the first flow control cartridge for movably sealing the inlet hole to prevent backflow of water into the hot water pipe; and   a second check valve disposed on the stopper of the second flow control cartridge for movably sealing the inlet hole to prevent backflow of water into the cold water pipe.   
   
   
       17 . The water faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the master control is disposed on the spout. 
   
   
       18 . The water faucet of  claim 1 , wherein the master control is manipulated to seal the outlet when stopping the dispensing of water through the outlet while either of the hot water control and the cold water control is in the open position. 
   
   
       19 . A water faucet having a water temperature retaining feature, the water faucet comprising:
 a hot water control for controlling an amount of hot water flowing through the water faucet, wherein the hot water control allows hot water from a hot water supply to flow through the water faucet when the hot water control is in an open position;   a cold water control for controlling an amount of cold water flowing through the water faucet, wherein the cold water control allows cold water from a cold water supply to flow through the water faucet when the cold water control is in an open position;   a mixing chamber for receiving the hot water from the hot water supply and the cold water from the cold water supply;   a first flow control cartridge operationally coupled with the hot water control for regulating the flow of hot water from the hot water supply into the mixing chamber;   a second flow control cartridge operationally coupled with the cold water control for regulating the flow of cold water from the cold water supply into the mixing chamber;   a water passage rotatably connected to the mixing chamber for dispensing a mixture of hot and cold water received from the mixing chamber through an outlet of the water passage, wherein the water passage is capable of controlling and stopping the dispensing of water through the outlet; and   a master control for controlling the dispensing of water through the outlet, wherein the master control is capable of stopping the dispensing of water through the outlet,   wherein the dispensing of water through the outlet is controlled by at least one of the master control or the water passage while at least one of the hot water control and the cold water control is in the open position.   
   
   
       20 . The water faucet of  claim 19 , wherein rotation of the water passage from a substantially central position toward an edge of a sink decreases an amount of the water dispensed into the sink and the dispensing of water is stopped when the outlet of the water passage reaches near an inner peripheral edge of the sink such that no water drips out of the outlet when the outlet is positioned at an outer portion of the sink.